READY FOR FANS – Cape Cod Cubs president Scott MacPherson shares some special golden tickets with Matt Dedecko. The tickets commemorate the official opening of the Hyannis Youth and Community Center and will be given as souvenirs to the first 500 fans attending this weekend’s hockey games.

Festivities mark official opening of HYCC

After more than a year of construction, roadwork and red tape, the Hyannis Youth and Community Center will officially open its doors this weekend.

Beginning tonight (Sept. 25) the center invites the public to celebrate the grand opening of the HYCC, which will be commemorated with a ribbon-cutting, public skating, a barbecue and the first home game of the Cape Cod Cubs.

The celebratory weekend gets underway this afternoon at 4 when various state and local dignitaries including Sen. Therese Murray (D-Plymouth), State Rep. Demetrius Atsalis, and Joseph P. Kennedy III (son of former congressman Joe Kennedy), gather for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Rev. Dr. Carl F. Schultz will give the invocation, students from the Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School will say the Pledge of Allegiance, and Mia Wood, who sang the National Anthem at the closing of the old Kennedy Rink will sing the Anthem for the opening.

On Saturday the celebration at the HYCC will combine forces with Hyannis’ annual Family Fun day and will feature Touch-A-Truck, public skating and a special appearance by the Follow A Dream Racing Team.

Adults will enjoy free demonstrations of Zumba, African Dance and Poekolean, as well as a demonstration from Beth Walsh Dance. A free cookout and a meet-and-greet with former Bruins players caps off the afternoon.

Tours of the facility will be offered on both days.

“The No. 1 word when people come inside is ‘Wow!’” said Lynne Poyant, Community Services director for the Town of Barnstable. “The hope is that people will continue to come in and make use of the facility.”

Perhaps the highlights of the event are the two hockey games set to take place Saturday night.

At 5 p.m. players in the Bruins Black and Golf Celebrity Hockey game will take to the ice of the new Kennedy Rink. This game features skaters such as Ken Hodge and Bobby Farrelly.

At 7:30 p.m. Barnstable’s own International Junior Hockey League team, the Cape Cod Cubs, will battle the Boston Jr. Blackhawks.

Fans will recognize local favorites such as Mike Donahue, Corbin Fries, Jeff Erving and Mike Lepore, who once played for Barnstable’s Red Raiders.

The first 500 fans into the games will be presented with commemorative golden tickets.

To sweeten the fun, fans will have the opportunity between periods to shoot pucks at goal from center ice to qualify for a chance to win a car later in the Cubs’ season. Barnstable Youth Hockey and Barnstable girls hockey will also play mini-games between periods.

“The real concept behind the team is that it’s something for the community,” said team president Scott MacPherson. “The community has been wonderful to us, from the school and administrators right on through to residents. It’s just been terrific.”

The center got a big boost this week when it was announced that the Barnstable Teachers’ Association is donating $6,000 to the HYCC. The funds will be used to purchase educational materials to benefit HYCC programs for school-age children.

Although most events at the grand opening are free, there is a $10 fee for the hockey games. Kids 11 and under are free with parent.

The HYCC is open 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. The annual usage fee for residents is $20, $40 for non-residents. For more information call the center at 508-790-6345.